The Seibertron.com camera has been busy at work, again, this time capturing some Japanese Generations goodness! These galleries feature Takara Tomy's War For Cybertron Soundwave, plus Fall Of Cybertron Blaster, Soundblaster and Soundwave, plus all of their Data Disc companions!

As always, we provide comparison pictures between the various US/Japanese versions, so you can see which one is right for you. The pictures below are your gateway to the full galleries, you can click on any under each heading to be taken to that figure's gallery.

i have the first deluxe FOC soundwave. the paint job on the takara version is TO DIE for. i would recommend him to anyone. even at ebay prices, for people who dont even like soundwave, or dont even know what a transformer is.

however i wasnt aware how nice takaras voyager versions were. im just not a fan of the voyager mold, its just to big. and i really do give them props for attempting on the data discs, but ultimately they were a fail.

We have some more high quality toy galleries for you today, here at Seibertron.com! The latest addition sees Generations back in fashion, with two figures which are exclusive to BicCamera and Kojima stores in Japan - take a look at Fireblast Grimlock, a red and yellow redeco with green highlights of its Generations Voyager counterpart (and an homage to the Transformers Animated Fireblast Grimlock), and Thundercracker, a mostly blue repaint with metallic finishes of the Generations Deluxe Starscream mold. As always, click on any of the images below for the full galleries!

I just can't help but walk away from a gallery of a Takara Transformer thinking "Hasbro, you cheap bastards!" Happens almost every single time. That Thundercracker looks amazing. I would love to get an entire Seeker set from Takara but I just can't stand what they did to Skywarp. 'Scream and T-Cracker look amazing but I'm not thrilled with 'Warp so the set would just bug me. While I may covet this version of Thundercracker, it isn't so far removed from the version I have that I can't live with mine but I do have to applaud this one. It's amazing.

T-Macksimus wrote:I just can't help but walk away from a gallery of a Takara Transformer thinking "Hasbro, you cheap bastards!" Happens almost every single time. That Thundercracker looks amazing. I would love to get an entire Seeker set from Takara but I just can't stand what they did to Skywarp. 'Scream and T-Cracker look amazing but I'm not thrilled with 'Warp so the set would just bug me. While I may covet this version of Thundercracker, it isn't so far removed from the version I have that I can't live with mine but I do have to applaud this one. It's amazing.

While Takara Tomy has done some nice variations with Transformers than the Hasbro counterparts, I find myself preferring the Hasbro versions usually ... probably mostly because of cost. I own most Takara Transformers products that have been released since 2006. I find that the quality control problems that people experience with Hasbro's Transformers products happen just as often, if not more due to extra paint apps, with Takara products. There are a few exceptions from time-to-time on both sides of the fence, but when cost is taken into consideration, Hasbro usually wins hands down with me.

After avoiding purchasing Takara-Tomy releases for years, for many of the same reasons others have said (too costly to justify the small differences), I've been slowly amassing quite a collection of modern Transformers product from Japan now. I first made an exception earlier this year, after putting up with Classics Megatron since 2007, by getting United Voyager Megatron for my Classics display. I rationalized that the difference in deco was significant enough and it was important to me to finally have a gun altmode G1 Megatron with the correct colors for my Classics display. Then...I decided to order the Seeker Aces and Elites sets. They are fantastic, very screen accurate, and give my Classics seekers some nice internal consistency with their paint layouts. Now, I've got both Autobot Specialists and the Decepticon Specialists three-packs on preorder. I also picked up a United Scourge to make him more distinguished from his Sweeps clones on my shelf (who will remain the Hasbro versions, of course). I've got a whole wishlist now of Takara-Tomy takes on characters I already have from Hasbro just for the sake of better G1/show accuracy. For the longest time, I convinced myself it was alright that some of my figures were more "toy accurate" than screen accurate, or simply homaged their G1 looks, in keeping with the "Classics" mission statement of modern updates instead of slavish G1 recreations, but now, I can't help but go for the screen accuracy that Takara-Tomy usually gives us. I will agree that paint chipping can be a problem with some figures. My solution so far as been to invest in "Sharpie" permant ink-paint pens to fill in some blemishes on figures. I had to touch up Skywarp and Thundercracker's silver paint from the Seekers Aces set, and those pens work like a charm! You may have to search a little to get the best paint matches for a particular figure, but your investment for a set of pens with a wide variety of colors will still be less expensive than many of the more demanded Takara-Tomy figures.

Wolfman Jake wrote:After avoiding purchasing Takara-Tomy releases for years, for many of the same reasons others have said (too costly to justify the small differences), I've been slowly amassing quite a collection of modern Transformers product from Japan now. I first made an exception earlier this year, after putting up with Classics Megatron since 2007, by getting United Voyager Megatron for my Classics display. I rationalized that the difference in deco was significant enough and it was important to me to finally have a gun altmode G1 Megatron with the correct colors for my Classics display. Then...I decided to order the Seeker Aces and Elites sets. They are fantastic, very screen accurate, and give my Classics seekers some nice internal consistency with their paint layouts. Now, I've got both Autobot Specialists and the Decepticon Specialists three-packs on preorder. I also picked up a United Scourge to make him more distinguished from his Sweeps clones on my shelf (who will remain the Hasbro versions, of course). I've got a whole wishlist now of Takara-Tomy takes on characters I already have from Hasbro just for the sake of better G1/show accuracy. For the longest time, I convinced myself it was alright that some of my figures were more "toy accurate" than screen accurate, or simply homaged their G1 looks, in keeping with the "Classics" mission statement of modern updates instead of slavish G1 recreations, but now, I can't help but go for the screen accuracy that Takara-Tomy usually gives us. I will agree that paint chipping can be a problem with some figures. My solution so far as been to invest in "Sharpie" permant ink-paint pens to fill in some blemishes on figures. I had to touch up Skywarp and Thundercracker's silver paint from the Seekers Aces set, and those pens work like a charm! You may have to search a little to get the best paint matches for a particular figure, but your investment for a set of pens with a wide variety of colors will still be less expensive than many of the more demanded Takara-Tomy figures.

i was the same way, except it wasnt a monetary thing for me. i just wasnt as "in" to the hobby that i am now. the only figures i HAD to have the imports of were the masterpieces. but when i got deeper into collecting and researched the differences between hasbro and takara releases, there was no question. i had to have the superior decos. and since i can afford it, why wouldnt i? so over the last year and a half i went from owning about half the classics/generations line, to being two (or so) figures shy of having a complete henkei-united-TG collection exclusives and all. and buying henkei after the fact, was killer on the wallet. but at the end of the day im really happy with my collection.

oh yeah! the gallery!my interest on grim was piqued when i first saw him so ill probably get him. thundercracker looks reaallly nice. he even makes me want to get takaras awful skywarp to complete the trio.... ill probably end up with all six in the end.

Voyager Soundwave and Soundblaster look nice with shinier paint, but, I think I like the Hasbro ones much better, especially for G1 accuracy purposes in my Classics collection. The extra paint details like the gold paint on the shins actually add to the cartoon accuracy. PROTIP: if you have both Hasbro Soundwave and Soundblaster, switch their guns. It helps give Soundwave an even more authentic G1 look. I guess the Takara-Tomy versions are more game accurate? I feel similarly about Hasbro's Blaster, which got the red and gray plastics spot on for the original toy. It makes me smile each time I spot him on my shelf.

Seibertron.com is proud to present their newest galleries: Armada Starscream! This is one for the Unicron Trilogy fans and it takes everyone's favorite backstabber and puts him front and center from his redesigned origins in Armada, all the way to his Generations remake of today! Everything from the Hasbro versions to Takara, and even a gallery of the Mini-Con partners, plus our always reliable comparison photos and groupshots.

Click on any of the images below to be taken to that figure's gallery:

Not to mention a few more paint apps (check out the robot mode shoulder parts of the wings for instance).

While I think the Takara Tomy version looks better, this is another instance of where looks can be deceiving. With all of the extra paint apps come extra paint flaws that aren't evident on the Hasbro version.

Just about everywhere there is a paint app on this figure there are paint flaws and chips, which seems to be fairly typical of any figure lately that has paint apps. This was also the best of the 5 I was able to choose from. The others all had other varying degrees of paint flaws. I chose the one with the less flaws to its head and face.

Takara's products with all of their extra paint apps seem fine and dandy at first and in official product images, and even in my galleries, but seeing all of the flaws up close is frustrating. I think 20 years from now, the Hasbro versions will be more desired for those who open their items to display them because they will have stood the test of time better.

that is unfortunate to see, and ive experienced it myself as well. most notably from my foc starscream and united wfc prime. but ill guess anyone overseas who buys import toys are collectors, and will look after them accordingly. but yeah... in the hands of a child? good luck hasbro wins hands down.

shajaki wrote:that is unfortunate to see, and ive experienced it myself as well. most notably from my foc starscream and united wfc prime. but ill guess anyone overseas who buys import toys are collectors, and will look after them accordingly. but yeah... in the hands of a child? good luck hasbro wins hands down.

Going forward with my Takara galleries I'll start documenting more of these flaws. Binaltechs are what really soured me on the Takara products. They were hyped as being the superior figures to the Alternators yet the Alternators with all of their plastic goodness and fewer paint apps are holding up better.

shajaki wrote:that is unfortunate to see, and ive experienced it myself as well. most notably from my foc starscream and united wfc prime. but ill guess anyone overseas who buys import toys are collectors, and will look after them accordingly. but yeah... in the hands of a child? good luck hasbro wins hands down.

Going forward with my Takara galleries I'll start documenting more of these flaws. Binaltechs are what really soured me on the Takara products. They were hyped as being the superior figures to the Alternators yet the Alternators with all of their plastic goodness and fewer paint apps are holding up better.

I understand why you're wanting to do that, but is it really necessary though? Documenting every single flaw on every figure wouldn't give off a good impression, and aren't paint flaws a known "risk of the trade" so to speak?

I tend to agree. I don't know how helpful cataloging paint flaws will be. Hasbro products have their share of the same issues too with paint errors, sloppiness, and blemishes, though, yes, with more extensive paint coverage comes greater risk of flaws. Again, I think it's well worth it to invest in some hobby paints to touch up your Takara-Tomy figures. The Sharpie and Sharpie-like paint pens work wonders.

shajaki wrote:that is unfortunate to see, and ive experienced it myself as well. most notably from my foc starscream and united wfc prime. but ill guess anyone overseas who buys import toys are collectors, and will look after them accordingly. but yeah... in the hands of a child? good luck hasbro wins hands down.

Going forward with my Takara galleries I'll start documenting more of these flaws. Binaltechs are what really soured me on the Takara products. They were hyped as being the superior figures to the Alternators yet the Alternators with all of their plastic goodness and fewer paint apps are holding up better.

I understand why you're wanting to do that, but is it really necessary though? Documenting every single flaw on every figure wouldn't give off a good impression, and aren't paint flaws a known "risk of the trade" so to speak?

Didn't say I'd document every single flaw on every single figure. Just said I'd start documenting via photos more of these flaws. Takes just a minute more a gallery to knock out a few extra pics like I did for Armada Starscream. Not necessary at all, but nor are a lot of the shots that I take.

I often use Seibertron galleries to make decisions about whether to buy a figure or not, especially when it comes to imported figures that cost more. So if the photos highlight flaws, that's great to know before I buy.

The question I have, aren't flaws going to be different from figure to figure? I think what we're getting at in this thread is either that QC in TakTom's paint is going down, not adhering as well, or the figures themselves are not being handled as delicately as they should be in house?

For me, I think inherent, across-the-release issues, sure, let's lump together at the end of the gallery. Things like asembly erros, I'd love to know that. and if we're getting reports of consistent (and usually those come in after the galleries come out because Seibs' is on top of things like that) errors, the TFCC paint issues come to mind, bu how likely is it that my Starscream's paint (If I had one) is already faking around the wrist like yours?

Flashwave wrote:The question I have, aren't flaws going to be different from figure to figure? I think what we're getting at in this thread is either that QC in TakTom's paint is going down, not adhering as well, or the figures themselves are not being handled as delicately as they should be in house?

For me, I think inherent, across-the-release issues, sure, let's lump together at the end of the gallery. Things like asembly erros, I'd love to know that. and if we're getting reports of consistent (and usually those come in after the galleries come out because Seibs' is on top of things like that) errors, the TFCC paint issues come to mind, bu how likely is it that my Starscream's paint (If I had one) is already faking around the wrist like yours?

I just want to shed some light on the fact that Takara products have just as many, if not more, QC problems than Hasbro's products have. Many fans still maintain the false belief that Takara's products are superior to Hasbro's. I just want to provide some visual evidence that this is not usually the case. All of those extra paint apps come at the price of additional QC problems which is frustrating when paying import costs on these items (i.e. a $12 deluxe toy now costs $30 to $40). That's all I want to do is just shed some light on that.

One other issue with Takara's Armada Starscream (at least on mine) ... his head was misassembled. I had to unscrew the head to pop the back part of his head onto the ball joint properly and then screw the head back together. If you look at the first half of his robot mode pics, you'll notice that he's kind of looking at an upward angle because the head is not attached to the ball joint properly.

I am incredibly excited for Fireblast Grimlock and Thundercracker. I love love love the Cruellock figure from Energon and have every version of the mold. There are several of those cues here from Dinobot magma type and I think it came out great. No place in my actual collection for it but it will be a lovely desk toy. Thundercracker is a welcome addition to my WFC/FOC collection and a great way to end that. I'd love to get more characters from the games but I think we're at the end of that. We'll see after the next game hits.

We're still going! Before we get the avalanche of new Transformers: Age of Extinction toys hits, Seibertron.com is making sure as many products are covered in its famous, professional galleries - and it's time for some more Takara Tomy Generations. Check out below some highlights from the galleries for TG-19 Grimlock and TG-09 Starscream, featuring metallic repaints of their Hasbrocounterparts, and both based on their Fall of Cybertron appearances. Click on any of the images for the full gallery!

I covet that Takara-Tomy Grimlock with his G1-accurate red abs and pelvis. I've got the Hasbro one from the two-pack with Bruticus, and that chromed gold looks lovely, but I'll settle for the more subdued golden/bronze chrome if it means better paint applications elsewhere on the figure.

True, but I want that one specifically for my Classics shelf! I don't know why this mold doesn't get more respect. It's a very good update for the original G1 Grimlock and manages to homage the vintage Transformation scheme quite well. Plus, he scales REALLY nicely with Classics Voyager Optimus Prime.

If only he were leader class, he'd be my definitive neo-G1 Grimlock for my MP collection. I know there's already an MP Grimlock, but I just have this peeve against the non-accurate T-Rex alt mode. I know that's how he was depicted in the G1 cartoons as well as the original toy, but I just prefer a more "updated" T-Rex mode.

Wolfman Jake wrote:True, but I want that one specifically for my Classics shelf! I don't know why this mold doesn't get more respect. It's a very good update for the original G1 Grimlock and manages to homage the vintage Transformation scheme quite well. Plus, he scales REALLY nicely with Classics Voyager Optimus Prime.

The mold gets so much hate because of the fugly dino tail. I had to buy the Zenith Forge and Iron Factory upgrade sets plus an Artek gun to get him looking really good in robot mode. it's a shame those sets were never done in the takara grey plastic or even for the red version.

My monitor is fine, Sabr - Haven't noticed any colour issues with it.Nah, thats clearly a cerise kinda tone, when compared to and I had to double check in Gimp - even that said it [FOC Starscream] was pink

Amelie wrote:That Starscream looks awfully... pink. Would only take a swap of the blue for something else and it would easily pass for a new character.

Ryan - did it look that pink when you had it in hand, or is this some kinda photo trickery?

They're both pink/fuchsia because that's the color he was in the game. The darker, more metallic tones used on the Takara version are more game accurate, but neither one (Hasbro or Takara) is red.

I've got all of the FoC seeker variants so far except Takara's Thundercracker, which I've got on preorder.

I definitely prefer Takara's Starscream and Skywarp for their more metallic tones and better game accuracy, but Hasbro's aren't bad. I really like that Hasbro is being consistent with their Thundercrackers, using the same darker tone of blue for their MP and now their FoC versions as they used on their Generations Earth mode deluxe. It's a really nice color scheme for TC even if it isn't really show accurate or game accurate. It just looks nice .

I have both the Takara Grimlock and Starscream. I think they are far superior decos to the Hasbro releases for who they are meant to be in that universe. I keep the Hasbro version of that Starscream at my desk because I think the mold is fun. Just need a Sunstorm from it.

Flux Convoy wrote:I have both the Takara Grimlock and Starscream. I think they are far superior decos to the Hasbro releases for who they are meant to be in that universe. I keep the Hasbro version of that Starscream at my desk because I think the mold is fun. Just need a Sunstorm from it.

Yeah, I wish they'd do all the Seekers from it, including (if possible through some minor modding) the coneheads. That would be sweet.